Bringing in a diamond-a bit of help please

[gail013]

So, when you actually bring in a dimaond, and you have your 10-30 days, what do all of you look for? I am bringing it in from WF, and don''t know if I necessarily need an appraiser. I think it is a good value, and I know to look for what I think I should. But what do most people do as far as making sure it''s the one. It''s making me nervous-now that reality is hitting me .

 

[Ellen]

I would get it in as many lighting situations as possible. Home, stores, resturants, outside. My diamond has soooo many different looks, depending on the light, but they''re all beautiful!

Good luck!

 

[gail013]

Out of curiosity, how many people do you think end up sending stones back......wondering if it''s common?

 

[Ellen]

Hmmm, I would "guess" a small percentage, but really don''t know.

 

[Ellen]

gail, is this an ACA?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I doubt many ACA stones are sent back. I ordered and sent two back from other vendors, because I simply had to learn what I wanted in terms of the 4 C''s. I would not feel the need for an appraiser on a GIA or AGS certified diamond from WF or GOG, personally. The cert is verification that the stone is what they say it is. And we can compare prices on here. If a diamond is EGL or non-certified, then I''d certainly send it to an appraiser.

You just know very quickly if it is a beautiful stone and pleasing to your eye. The one I ended up keeping, I had no doubts about. If you have doubts about anything, I''d send it back.

 

[belle]

the chances of getting a ''dud'' when you get to a certain level of diamonds is pretty slim. first of all....it''s a DIAMOND!

second of all, well cut diamonds look so much better than your everyday run of the mill mediocre cuts that most people are used to seeing. once you see a well cut diamond, you''ll never go back (or send it back!)
can''t wait to see what you have found!

 

[gail013]

Thanks for your input. It is not an ACA, but Bob said it was an absolutely beautiful stone. It is an ideal cut and is a hearts and arrows (almost) , although I don''t think it was supposed to be. It does come with a GIA cert. i do know it has a feather at 10 o clock. I was looking for a large stone in our price range and something has to give, but I did not want to sacrifice cut. It is 3 carat, J, ideal cut, Si 2 because of the feather, and BOb said it is very white, and gives off alot of color. I am just nervous!

 

[Upside Down Man]

I had my stone sent to me in the mail, too, but it wasn't by a vendor commonly recommended on this site (i.e., wasn't WF or GOG). Even though it was GIA certifiied, I still had it appriased to make sure the diamond matched the cert.

I don't doubt for one second that you can't completely trust WF, I'm just saying for $25 extra to get an independent jeweler to match the stone to the cert, seems like a worthy purchase. $25 for peace of mind (out of an $XX,000 purchase) to be sure I got exactly what I paid for.


Edit: In case that sounded weird to anyone, a local jeweler appraises rings for insurance purposes for $75. He told me he would charge me $25 to match the diamond to the cert, and then the remaining $50 to give me the full insurance appraisal once I had it mounted and took it back to him. That's where I got the "$25" figure from...

 

[Ellen]

gail, sounds like you probably have a winner there. In the end, you should look at it and just think, my gosh this is beautiful.

 

[Lorelei]

Ditto what everyone else has said! Online diamond purchases seem to be increasing all the time for many reasons, not only the prices, superior cuts and cut info, but also the expertise of many of the online vendors all helps to increase confidence for the consumer and therefore much happiness with the final result. So I too would think that due to the beauty of many of these diamonds, returns are a small percentage. You will know when you find your diamond, also with the calibre of diamonds you are considering it would be hard to get it wrong! With diamonds you will know if it is love or not, in my opinion a diamond has to speak to you, if this one doesn't then maybe it isn't the right one, but you will know when you see it, if Bob recommends this diamond I would have confidence in his eyes and expertise. You don't necessarily need an appraisal due to the vendors of this diamond, but as this is probably a large chunk of change being spent as it is a 3 ct, it might be worth it for peace of mind if an appraisal would give you that.

 

[gail013]

Thank you all for the encouragement. You would all find it interesting too I''m sure, if I told you that our local B & M jeweler that I started with, wants to sell us a stone similar in size, and similar with the other grading criteria, although not as well cut, and EGL rated, for $10,000 more! I really wanted to work with them, as they were going to take my other ring in on trade, but I know I am just throwing it away. I even told him I had located stones on the internet for far less, and that didn''t seem to phase him......So I am hoping this works out.

I am probably going to have Maytal make my ring up, although I have been eyeing the Leon Mege pieces, as well as the Daniel K. I am having a very hard tme here in Mpls finding any decent settings. My original jeweler made up a wax for me similar to a JB Star ring I love, but now I will probably just pay him for the wax and move on. I don''t think he would be happy at all, to take my diamond and work with that. Kind of a slap in the face probably.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Date: 10/27/2006 11:26:12 AM
Author: gail013
My original jeweler made up a wax for me similar to a JB Star ring I love, but now I will probably just pay him for the wax and move on. I don''t think he would be happy at all, to take my diamond and work with that. Kind of a slap in the face probably.

Wait, Gail, why not ask him if he would still be willing to make you the setting even if you do get your diamond somewhere else? Isn''t *some* business better than *no* business? Or, if you''re paying for he wax, does it then belong to you? Maybe you could take it to another jeweler and have him make it up?

 

[Upside Down Man]

It's not that *some* business is better than *no* business - it's that for their own insurance purposes, some jewelers don't want to take the risk of damaging a diamond that was not purchased from them. It was a common response I got from many local B&M jewelers. I just had to keep trying until I found one that would do it.

Edit: My bad, DeeJay. I clearly misinterpreted your post. I see now that you meant that the jeweler could just make the setting anyway, regardless of whether he sets the stone or not. Sorry.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Upside Down Man - Oh yes, I do see your point. If Gail and here jeweler are willing to go that route maybe she could get insurance that covers the stone while it''s being set. I just KNOW how hard it is to find a setting that you love, and I wanted to throw out an idea that might help Gail get the setting that she said she loved.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think you''d be very pleased with either Maytal or Leon.

You''re fine with expert selection because they are stones that were cut to be hearts and arrows but by some small anomaly they didn''t meet the ACA requirements. And really, to get a 3 carat stone, it helps to NOT have to pay the premium for ACA. Of course, you''re still probably getting a stone that is in the top 3-5% of all diamonds. So don''t worry about that for a minute!

 

[gail013]

I know, I thought about that, but I asked him before, " what if I get my own stone" He kind of shrugged and said "whatever you want to do......, but I want to sell you the whole package" I know he woldl be mad!

He hasn''t been alot of fun to work with, which may sound dumb, but for this kind of $ I want a great experience! Maytal has been awsome, calling me, emailing me her thoughts and ideas, and I appreciate that kind of service.

I guess I will leave my options open. I did like the wax they made, but I don''t think he really ''gets'' me. He tries to talk me into stuff I don''t want, and out of stuff I do. Hearing another opinion is good, but he is very old school if you know what I mean. He has mentioned a few times, how much he has into this, which irritates me. The only thing really great is that he is close by, and I can get the ring more easily! There are things I would want to change about the wax that I have already mentioned and he kind of argues with me about why not to.

If this is my biggest problem in life, things must be pretty good!

 

[angeline]

Wowza, can''t wait to see that honker!! PLEASE post pics! a

 

[gail013]

I know I read somewhere on these boards, that someone else was a nervous wreck picking out THE setting. I totally understand that. Especially if you like many different things. Of course our hubbies or SO all think it is forever, but we know it has to be at least for 5-10 years!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

gail, this is off topic, but I am coming to Indy in a couple of weeks for a conference and wonder if you could tell me the very best restaurants that you''d recommend downtown? Thanks!

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 10/27/2006 11:49:52 AM
Author: gail013
I know, I thought about that, but I asked him before, '' what if I get my own stone'' He kind of shrugged and said ''whatever you want to do......, but I want to sell you the whole package'' I know he woldl be mad!

He hasn''t been alot of fun to work with, which may sound dumb, but for this kind of $ I want a great experience! Maytal has been awsome, calling me, emailing me her thoughts and ideas, and I appreciate that kind of service.

I guess I will leave my options open. I did like the wax they made, but I don''t think he really ''gets'' me. He tries to talk me into stuff I don''t want, and out of stuff I do. Hearing another opinion is good, but he is very old school if you know what I mean. He has mentioned a few times, how much he has into this, which irritates me. The only thing really great is that he is close by, and I can get the ring more easily! There are things I would want to change about the wax that I have already mentioned and he kind of argues with me about why not to.

If this is my biggest problem in life, things must be pretty good!

I don''t think you really want to work with him. And that''s OK don''t feel bad. You just don''t mesh with him.

 

[gail013]

Thanks Stone Hunter, I know that is how I feel, mu hubbie tells me the same thing.

Diamondseeker, I will have to get back to you on that, but can I tell you there is fabulous shopping in this town! Where are you from? My family has lived there for abut 20 years, but we seldom eat out-strange I know, but we usually have more fun hanging out at someone''s house. Let me know, just so I know what shops to reccomend-they''d most likely be in the suburbs-

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gail, I am staying at the Hyatt and probably won''t venture farther than downtown, unfortunately. I understand about living in the suburbs and not venturing into the city just to go out to eat. If you think of any, that would be great. Or if there is anything else not to be missed downtown, that would be great, too! I just won''t have a lot of free time being there 3 nights.